#ScriptureReflection - Ephesians 3 (12.15.18)

Commission to Preach God’s Plan. ¹ Because of this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ [Jesus] for you Gentiles— ² if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, ³ [namely, that] the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. ⁴ When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, ⁶ that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷ Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light [for all] what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory.

Prayer for the Readers. ¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.